First off, the files you will need to print the project: sweetilings_bw_pdf
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What is contained: 4 different fairy bodies, fronts and backs, for you to color and decorate; several styles of wings to choose from, assorted wands to make a star fairy, tooth fairy, heart fairy or flower fairy.
What you’ll need: markers and crayons or paint, glue (scrapbooker’s fast-drying is best), toothpicks, bits and pieces of ribbon, string or popsickle sticks to hang the faires with or use as handles, scissors, 8.5′ x 11″ card stock, and, although not necessary, sparkly glitter, stickers or the like is highly recommended.
1. Pick your fairy and pick your wing pair. Color ‘em in. We used crayons and markers because they were on hand. Add glitter, sequins and bits of what not. Depending on your inclination, you may choose to make each component a mirror image of it’s partner or you may go for the daring separate size look. Coloring mirror images is a good, challenging task for young children in particular. Choosing to make separate sides different is quite daring for most older people.
2. Cut the components out, leaving a generous outer perimeter around tight areas such as feet and hands. This is rather tricky cutting for the very young but should be managble for adults and older children.
3. Glue the blank sides of your fairy bodies together, matching them together as closely as possible. Hold the two pieces up to a light or window to help align the dark lines. Our fairies wanted to bend a bit as they dried, so we pressed them between a stack of heavy books as they dried. I used a higher quality scrapbooker’s glue stick and it worked great. School glue was a bit too gloppy and “wet.”
4. Take a look at your wings and think a bit about how you want them positioned on the fairie’s body. For instance, if you want the fairy to be attached to a string and flying above you, you’ll probably want the colored side of the wings to face towards the ground. Color both sides of the wings for extra panache. Fold the tabs of the wings at the dotted line and then again higher towards the wing tip, angling to get the tilt you desire.
5. When the fairy body is dry, attach the wings by glueing/taping the wing tab in place. For our needs (we tend to really play with our toys) both glue and tape were necessary.
6. Attach string, wire, snazzy straws, popsickle sticks, pipe cleaners…..you’ll want some sort of handle or cord so that you can play with the fairy or display her.
7. About the wands (optional, of course.): On one of the wing pages, you’ll fine a few wand tip options, i.e. heart, teeth, star and flower. I used a toothpick as the wand handle, rolled in glue and sandwiched between the reverse sides of a matched pair of wand tips. Adding a scrap of ribbon as a tail makes for a charming addition. I think you could also use straws or leftover sucker sticks as a wand handle if you don’t want to deal with pointy toothpicks? Also, I had the idea that these fairies would look super nifty done in a fruit and veg theme…..how cute would a strawberry wand be with a little matching red dress and striped tights?
P.S. These fairies are based on the fairies in a wonderful book from our library: Easy To Read! Easy To Draw! Magical Creatures (Easy-to-Read! Easy-to-Draw!) This is a very simple, basic how-to-draw book…no frills and not at all intimidating.
